Canterbury: Mitchell Johnson admits he has been down on pace this year. But after demonstrating emphatically that he has the pace back, Johnson is eager to “let a few rip” against England in 10 days’ time.

“I felt like I’d probably dropped a little bit of pace throughout the West Indies tour and probably through the IPL,” Johnson was quoted as saying by an Australian daily.

“It wasn't too much of a concern for me, though. I was really excited about getting over here and playing in these conditions because I know the ball swings here in overcast conditions. 

“It was just nice to get out there and let a few rip… Have regained my pace…

“We had a pretty vocal crowd [at Kent], which was good, but like I've always said, the crowds over here really know good cricket and they really appreciate it.”

Johnson brushed off the suggestion that slow English wickets wouldn't suit him, and the bounce he elicited in his aggressive first outing of the tour on Friday, collecting three wickets, seemed to back up his view. 

“If you’re going to look at stats and stuff, you can. But that’s not how I operate,” Johnson said. “I like to go out there on any wicket that I play on and give it my all and try and enjoy myself.

“I really enjoyed the West Indies. There was probably the same talk there that I don't bowl well on those wickets. But for me, it's really the experience of the wickets. They're probably a tad slower and they probably do a little bit more earlier on, so I think that brings all bowlers into it.”

Johnson, of course, has more of fond recent memories in England. It was here that he laid the groundwork for his Ashes heroics with some fearsome bowling towards England’s then Test No.3 Jonathan Trott and others during the one-day series in September 2013.  

“That one-day series was really nice to get in and really have a crack. 

“I was out of the game for a long time and had a pretty tough time of it. So, it was really nice for me to get over here and play well.”

On initial evidence of his return to England, Johnson has picked up from where he left off.  

 (Agencies)